Caster



J. KEMME Oct. 13, 1931.

CASTER Filed Aug. 16, 1930 /5 "n, n i

liul ||||l|||||||||||I l|||||||||||||Il fvwemzr Patented Oct. 13, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH '.KEMME, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES B.

NALLE, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA CASTEB Application led August 16, 1930. Serial No. 475,775.

This invention relates to the general class of devices known as casters which are generally used for supporting articles of furniture, or the like, and has for its general object s the provision of a device of the class indicated which shall be simple in construction and efficient. in operation to produce the desired results.

The invention has as a further object the provision of a device of the class indicated which embodies therein Various improved features which result in a product of improved construction and capable of results heretofore unattained.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be adjusted to vary the height of the article supported above the floor, and is particularly useful when applled to the legs of tables or other articles of furniture. When a plurality of devices according to my invention are applied to such an article of furniture, each may be individually adjusted so that each caster has an equal bearing on the floor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the t-ype mentioned which may be easily adjusted and which w1ll not get out of adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a caster which will rigidly support any article to which it is attached, and which article will have no tendency to wobble.

These and other objects of the device according to my invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my improved caster;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of my device;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the guide-.

retaining member of the device of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 shows in perspective the nut-enclosing yoke of the device of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views, respeccaster.

tively, of the recessed adjusting nut and its associated washer;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a modified formof my improved caster; v

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the device of 55 Fig. 7;

`ig. 9 is a perspective view of the guideretaining member of the modified form of my device;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the nutenclosing yoke of the modified form; and

Figs. 11 and 12 show in perspective the recessed nut and its associated washer used in the modified form and which are similar to the corresponding elements of the preferred embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a caster having the usual roller 1 rotatable about an axle 2 which is supported by bracket member 3. This bracket member has depending arms 4 which support the roller axles at their extremities. This structure is, of course, the usual structure of the lower portion of an ordinary A shank 5 has its lower end 6 of small diameter and is supported in an upright position on the bracket member. The shank extends through an opening in the bracket member and is held firmly by means of washers 7 and 8 and riveted portion 9. 80 The middle section of shank 5 is threaded as at 10, while the upper end is unthreaded. A knurled adjusting nut 12, shown more clearly in Fig. 5, threadedly engages the middle or threaded portion of the shank. g5

rlhis nut is provided with a recess 13 in its upper surface, which is adapted to receive a spring washer 14, shown more clearly in Fig. 6, which may take the form of an ordinary lock washer.

A yoke'l, which is clearly shown in Fig. 4, has its main body portion partly enclosing the adjusting nut and is provided with eX- tending wing portions 16 and 17 having, respectively, sets of threaded apertures 18 and 95 19. The upper and lower faces of the yoke are provided with elongated slots 20. The threaded portion 10 of shank 5 has diametrically opposite flattened portions, as shown, so that this portion of the shank coincides in 100 cross section with the elongated slots 2@ ot the oke. sha from turning with respect to the yoke. A guide-retaining member 23, shown more clearly in Fig. 3,-1s provided with extending Wing portions 24 and 25 similar to those or the yoke. Member 23 also has a centrally located opening 28 with its peripheral portion raised. Sets of holes 26 and 27 are provided respectively in wing portions 24 and 25. These wing portions are adapted to co incide with the wing portions of yoke l5, and screws 21 and 22 pass through holes 26 and 27 to threadedly engage holes 18 and 19. This rmly attaches the guide-retaining member to the yoke.. ,i f

A guide 30 is provided having its insid diameter of such dimension that the unthreaded portion ll oshank `5 tits snugly therein. The guide is provided with integrally extending danges 3l and 32, the latter being referably formed. by simply bending out the lower end of the guide. l'lhe guide is iirmly-held by means oni the retaining member 23 by having its lower ange 32 secured under the upturned portion oi the retaining member, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. A. supporting member 33 having serrations 34 is supported on the guide between flange 3l and the upstanding portion of the retaining member 23.

In assembling the above-described device, it is necessary, bei'ore riveting the shank to the roller support, to thread the adjusting nut with its associated spring washer and enclosing yoke upon the threaded portion ot the shank. The shank is then attached to the roller support. rllhe supporting member 33 and retaining member 23 are placed over the end oi' guide 30 and the lower extremity of the guide is then bent outward to term ange 32. 'lhis assembled structure is then mounted on the supporting yoke by means ci the attaching screws. ln this form of my device, it will be noted that adjusting nut l2 may be raised or lowered to raise or lower the supporting member '33, which is adapted to support the leg oi an article of furniture or the like. rllhe serrations, of course, bite into the leg in the usual manner. ln this way, the height ci the lower extremity of the leg or article supported above the floor may be varied. Alter the adjustment oiE the device has been made, any turning of the device will not cause turning ci the shank with respect to the adjusting nut, or vice versa, because the spring washer forms a binding connection between the adjusting nut and the yoke and the latter is unable to turn relative to the shank because ont its slotted openings and the corresponding dattening of the threaded portion of the shank.

The swiveling action oil the device takes place between the guide and the ide-retaining member. ln other words, when the This construction prevents thehenna/io shanh turns it carries with it the guide-retaining member, while ide 30and supporting member 33 are stationary.,` 'lhe guideretaining member is rotatable about dan e 32 of the guide. @bviousl this assemb y provides a, device which wi not get out of adjustment due to movement of the supported article, and when the aldifusting nut has once been positioned, the o y action which can occur thereafter is the desired swiveling action. The frictional connection between the yoke and the adjusting nut formed by the springwasher prevents any dis lacemeut of the latter along the shank ue to turning of the shank.

ln F i s. 7 and 8, l have shown a modied torni o' my device. In these gures, the usual roller-supporting structure comprising a roller 1 supported bv-axle 2 which, in turn, is su ported by member 3 is again provided. T eupstanding shanlr 5 is attached to the roller-supporting memberin the same manner as before, utilizing a pair 'of washers 'l' and 8 and riveted portion 9. In this instance, however, the shank 5 is threaded throughout its entire upper portion, and the diametrically .opposite v dattened portions extend the entire length or the threads. A. recessed adjusting nut 3.2 with an associated spring washer 1d are again provided and the nut threadedly engages theshank. The nutenclosing yoke 15a, `having a dih'erent form than that described above, is 'provided and has elongated slots 20 in its upper and lower surfaces to accommodate. the dattened threaded shank as previously described. A

guide-retaining member 23a is providedv with a centrally located aperture 23 having an upstanding peripheral portion 29 as belore. 'lhis member,y however, is provided' with clamping portions 35 and 36 which are adapted to embrace the upper portion 3'? of yoke 15a. A guide member 30 is again provided which carries a serrated supporting member 33 and has its end portion bent out ward to provide a dange 32 as described above.

ln assembling this modiiied form ont my device, it is not necessary to place the adjusting nut and its yoke upon the shank before attaching the latter-to the roller support. ln this instance, the shank may be first attached to the roller support. rlhe remainder of the structure may be assembled separately'. 'l'he supporting member 33 and retaining member 2303 are rst placed over the end of the guide, and the llower extrem-ity oi the guide is bent outward to form dange 32. 'lhe retaining member is then placed on the yoke and its depending sides are bent to form clamping portions 35 and 36 which embrace the yoke. The spring washer is next placed in its recess. rl`he yoke and the assembly supported by' it is then placed in cooperative relation with the adjusting Alll.

llll

razas-1o nut and the latter is threadedly laced upon the shank. It will be noted t at in this modied form of my device, the shank is also prevented from turning relative to the adjusting nut and the structure `supported thereby due to the iattened threads of the shank and the elongated openings in the yoke. In this instance, the spring washer also forms a binding connection between the adjusting nut and the yoke so that the nut will not turn relative to the yoke of its own accord. Since the yoke cannot turn, the nut is prevented from turning also.

While in this modied form of my device, I have provided the shank with threads throughout its u per portion, which enables the assembly o the supportin structure after the shank is mounted, it wil be obvious that I may in this case also have the upper portion of the shank unthreaded as in the preferred embodiment. In such case, however, it would be necessary as before to mount the adjusting nut and the structure sup orted thereby on the shank before attaching the latter to the roller support, since the adjusting nut could not be placed over the unthreaded portion of the shank. In the modified form of my device, the entire swiveling action is the same as in the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

From the above disclosure, it will be apparent that I have provided a caster of improved construction having features which add greatly to the efficiency of the device. Obviously, various changes 1n the details of construction of my device may be made without departin from the s irit or sco e of the invention. 'Iherefora t e above lsclosure is to be understood as serving the purpose of illustration only and not as limitln my invention. The invention is to be limited only by the scope'of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described having a threaded upstanding shank, a guide slidably and rotata 1y receiving said shank a weight supportin nut threaded adjustably on said shank un er said guide, and a yoke surrounding said nut and supporting said guide.

2. A device of the class described having a threaded upstanding shank, a guide slidably and rotatably receivlng said shank, a weightsupportlng recessed nut threaded adjustably on said shank, a spring washer in said recess, and a yoke surrounding said nut and washer and supporting said gulde.

3. A device of the class described having a threaded upstanding shank with its threadl 4. A device of the class described havingy a threaded upstanding shank a guide slida 1y and rotatably receivln sai shank, a weightsupportin nut threa ed adjustably on said shank umIer said guide, a yoke surrounding said nut, and a retaining member for said guide carried by said yoke. 4

5. A device of the class described having a threaded upstanding shank, a guide slidably and rotatably receivm said shank, a weightsupportin nut threa ed adjustably on said shank un er said guide, a yoke surroundin said nut, and a retaining member for said guide removably attached to said yoke.

6. A device of the class described having a threaded upstanding shank, a guide slidably and rotatably receiving said shank, a weight-supporting nut threaded adjustably on said shank under said guide, a yoke surrounding said nut, and a retaining member for said guide having clamping portions embracing said yoke. i

7. A device of the class described having a threaded upstanding shank, a guide slidably and rotatably receiving said shank and having a flange at one end, a weight-supporting nut threaded adjustably on said shank under said guide, a yoke surrounding said nut, and a retaining member for said guide carried by said yoke, a portion of said memberdrotatably retaining the flange of said 1 e. gu8. Av device of the class described having a threaded upstanding shank, a guide slidably and rotatably receiving said shank and having a pair of spaced flanges, a weight-supporting nut threaded ad]ustably on sald shank under said guide, a yoke surrounding said nut, a retaining member for said guide carried by said yoke, a portion of said member rotatably retaining one flange of said guide, and a serrated supporting member on said guide between said portion and the other flange of said ide.

9. In a device of the class described, an upstanding shank having its lower ortion threaded, a guide slidably and rotata ly receiving said shank and closely surroundin the upper unthreaded portion of said shan to revent wobble of said shank in said guide, and a weight-supporting nut threaded adjustbly on said s ank and supporting said 1 e. gu JOSEPH .KEMME ed portion flattened on opposite sides, a guide I slidably and rotatably receiving said shank, a weight-supporting nut threaded adjustably on said shank under said guide, and a yoke.

. having elongated openings for receiving said flattened threaded portion of 'said shank surrounding sad nut and supporting said guide.

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